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- Thanks for watching.…I hope these songwriting rules have given you lots…to think about when it comes to the songwriting process.…Remember, you don't have to follow every rule…every time, but keeping them in mind should…help you make your songs more commercial.…If you're looking for other courses on songwriting,…I definitely recommend my other courses,…"Write, Think, and Act Like a Professional Songwriter"…and "The Dos and Don'ts of Songwriting Collaboration".…Also, be sure to check out the series of…"Songwriting In" courses, covering various DAWs…will definitely help you flesh out your ideas…with whatever recording software you're using.…

Please feel free to visit my website, educatedsongwriter.com…and, if you're thinking about doing professional demos…of your song, and would like to use some of the best…singers and session musicians in the business,…please visit our sister company, nashvillestudiolive.com.…Well, that's it.…Thanks again for watching, and…best of luck with your next song.…

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Released

10/9/2015

While there are technically no limits when it comes to songwriting, here are 20 "unofficial" rules that songwriters employ to make songs more engaging and memorable. And it's not just commercial songwriters. These rules are used in many of the popular and GRAMMY-winning songs you hear today. In this course, Cliff Goldmacher reveals tips from the professional songwriter's rulebook, starting with 10 rules about lyrics: staying conversational, using concrete details, and keeping your rhyme schemes the same in similar sections. He then discusses five rules for melodies, including why you should keep melodies simple, unique, and accessible, and how to make them more memorable with repetition. The last five rules tackle familiar song structures and tips for shortening sections of songs.

Topics include:

Writing lyrics that are conversational and natural

Making every line count

Putting your song's hook at the end of a chorus

Creating simple and unique melodies

Keeping song intros short and longer verses at the beginning of a song